Stories of Hope

By Becky Schroeder, Co-Founder, Moms Mental Health Initiative Schroeder, pictured with her daughter. “She doesn’t like to be passed around.” These words sounded muffled to me as I lay in my hospital bed recovering from the very hard birth of my daughter. I was sleep deprived, drugged, and still in shock from the amount of pain I felt during my

Perinatal Mood & Anxiety Disorders can destroy hope. We’re on a mission to bring it back. By Sarah Ornst Bloomquist, Co-founder and Executive Director Postpartum depression, anxiety and the various perinatal mental health disorders 1 in 5 women suffer through can be ruthless. Perinatal mood and anxiety disorders (PMADs) can cut through a woman’s soul and expose her deepest fears

Trigger warning: Suicidal thoughts and ideation  Stock Image by Jenna Norman via Unsplash My perfect little boy was born in January 2019. Nothing was unusual about my pregnancy except, perhaps, the fact I seemed to have it pretty easy. No morning sickness, no real physical discomfort or pregnancy related ailments, low weight gain, high energy, no complications. Labor was a

Chestnuts roasting on an open fire, Jack Frost nipping at your nose, Yuletide carols being sung by the choir and folks dressed up like Eskimos. Everybody knows a turkey and some mistletoe help to make the season bright…..  While there is inherent beauty, magic, wonder and awe in the Holiday season, there can also be increased demands upon each of

I look at this photo, taken nearly two years after my experience with postpartum psychosis, and think “Wow, I never thought I’d get here. To this point of happiness and love and self-acceptance and hope.”  The first year and a half of my son’s life was not as picture perfect. Here’s my story. My husband and I are high school